SEBI, market entities up vigil on stocks on election results day

SEBI as well as bourses and other market entities have prepared an elaborate vigil mechanism to ring fence the capital market from possible manipulations against the backdrop of election results today

New Delhi: To ring fence the capital market from possible manipulations against the backdrop of election results today, SEBI as well as bourses and other market entities have prepared an elaborate vigil mechanism.

While market authorities have been already monitoring stock movements very closely since last few days, which saw markets surging to record highs on the back of exit poll and other predictions, they are now mainly focusing on tackling any possible shocks today and on Monday.

The counting of votes for 543 Lok Sabha constituencies will begin at 8 am, while clear trends are likely to emerge by afternoon and final results may keep coming out till late evening.

The markets would open as per their normal time at 9 am and close at 3.30 pm, leaving scope for impact of the results on Monday as well after weekly trading holidays on Saturday and Sunday.

A special team at Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is keeping a close tab on the stock market movements, while another team would also be monitoring the election results as they get announced to understand whether price movements are linked to outcomes in various constituencies, sources said.

According to sources, the stock movement of companies related to Gujarat and many others are being closely watched as they have witnessed huge rallies in recent weeks.

Besides Indian market movements, the trends in overseas markets and factors affecting foreign institutional investors are also being monitored almost on a 24/7 basis.

Besides, stock exchanges have put in place various circuit filters to stave off excessive volatility in stocks as well as derivatives segments.

Brokerages and other market entities are also advising investors to ensure that there are no sudden spurts or falls in the market, while investors are being discouraged from excessive margin exposure.

The aim is to ring fence the interest of investors and ensure smooth functioning of the market tomorrow by preventing manipulative activities, sources said.

The preparations are being done while keeping in mind the experience of previous times during the day of Lok Sabha poll results.

Apart from today, market authorities would be keeping a special watch on May 19 (Monday) also to ensure there are no disruptions of any kind.